Sea Harpy

Summary

A Sea Harpy is a Humanoid bird-like creature that occurs around wide open waters. Usually they're found around salt water bodies, but they can live in fresh water environments as well. While they are not technically fish and they do not have gills, they possess a remarkable ability to swim quickly underwater. This is caused by the way their feathers are angled, their webbed feet and their ability to perform a screwdriver-like ability to get speed boosts. Sea Harpies also have an amazing low oxygen tolerance, which allows them to stay under the water for long periods of time. The longest recorded underwater venture by a Sea Harpy so far has been 40 minutes. Sea Harpies that are performing underwater dashes or screwdrivers tend to stay underwater for a shorter time. Sea Harpies are part of some pirate lore in the Current Realm, with stories of them showing up in the face of a lost small crew or a lone sailor lost at sea and guiding them to land. However, unlike the Snow Harpy, Sea Harpies will use this as leverage and will demand some sort of treasure in return for their rescue efforts. Sea Harpies are clever and tend to help treasure seekers find the land they seek, but will lead them to be lost at sea once again if they are not given a cut of the treasure. Due to this demanding of treasure, some people, typically pirates, will kill the Sea Harpy that helped them. These pirates are never heard from again, as a large portion of them cannot find their way back to the land they came from and perish. This birthed more lore about Sea Harpies and made them more famous. Pirates and some adventurers alike tell tales that typically end in a lesson warning against double-crossing a Sea Harpy. A majority of Sea Harpies are female and they are the easiest to spot of all known Harpies, but you'll never see one if your group size is large enough. They do not take interest in large crews out to sea. You are very likely to see one if you are far enough out to sea while solo, but they will not approach you unless you are lost or dying from lack of basic needs. Sea Harpies are also known to carry hopeless sailors to the afterlife. Lore rumours that Sea Harpies know the location of the infamous Davy Jones Locker, according to pirates. Truth is, Sea Harpies can take those who are due for Death to both the Cloud World or the Underworld depending on the morale of the dying. Sea Harpy offspring will mature within 2 years, but they've been known to partake in mating season after 1.5 years, even if they may not possess all their adult feathers.

Appearance

Build

Sea Harpies have a height similar to Humans, but have a shorter upper range for height. The feathers of a Sea Harpy are angled in a way to allow for better movement underwater and above water. There is a small variation of feather angling between different subtypes. Sea Harpies have thin feathers on their ears and feathery hair, much like other harpies. They have short curved beaks that are oriented to hunting fish, their primary food source. The necks are average along with their wingspan. Their wing shape helps them further with flying and diving. They can dive out of the water as well, but this is only practised to escape predators. Wing shape varies slightly between variations. A Sea Harpy's chest is average in size, but will appear much larger when they are storing air in their Bubbox organ. Sea Harpies are known to also fill their Bubbox for this reason to assist in courting techniques. Their feathers will poof if they are dry when Sea Harpies full their Bubbox organ. The extent that Sea Harpies feathers cover depends on which subspecies it is. Sea Harpies do not have much for curves to maintain their aerodynamic shape. They still have big hips though and these hips are very strong. They can catch good sized food as a result of this. Hip size varies a bit by variation, but they are pretty big on average. Their leg gap difference is notable between subspecies. Sea Harpies possess webbed feet, there is different thickness between subspecies. The most frequent adult weight of a Sea Harpy is about 89kg, but some can be up to 120kg in weight. The Aquaius variation tends to be heavier, though no visual difference is apparent. What is apparent is that their hips will be even more solid.

Colour

There is variation between the colours of Sea Harpies depending on subspecies and gender. Males tend to adopt the brighter colours and females the darker colours.

Clothing

Sea Harpies do not wear clothing on a typical ordinary day. They will put on flashy and beautiful clothing if a mating season is in effect for courting purposes. The clothing style and colours will be different each season. Males will often put on some sort of clothing too, though this is more an effort to make them stand out more to a female Sea Harpy.

Evolution

Sea Harpies have an amazing evolutionary amplitude. To start, their feathers are angled in a certain way to allow them to cut through water more easily and swim faster than most sea creatures. In addition to this, it allows them to cut through the air with ease. Both of these factors contribute to being able to dive in and out of the water at a quick and swift speed. This is great in pursuit of food and to escape predators. Another evolution that is great to observe is how they create their nests, but that is more related to climate. The clothing they create to court a partner is another example. This example is also shared with the Common Harpy, who is known to practice a similar tradition.

Personality

Attitude

Male Sea Harpies have a preference to live in colonies on remote islands. They are generally pretty friendly with each other. Sometimes rivalries may pop up and they'll have a short scrap, but they tend to be good sports about it. These rivalries are most likely when they are anticipating the arrival of a group of females. They will not engage in fights with each other when females are present. Females prefer solitude and distance from other females outside of a mating season. They are often found singly over open waters. They distance themselves from large and often medium sailor crews. Small crews and solo sailors are more likely to find one. They do not approach small or solo sailor groups that are doing just fine unless their social needs are getting high. Sea Harpies, nearly always females, are like other Harpies in terms of associating with the afterlife. They will carry away small or solo crews who are dying from lack of basic needs. They could carry them off to the Underworld or the Cloud World depending on the weight of their soul. In situations where they're carried under, pirates often use this to refer Sea Harpies as knowing the way to Davy Jones Locker. On a rare occasion, Sea Harpies have been known to attack fishermen. The conditions that appear to be consistent in these cases are small or solo groups that are mass-fishing. It is not often small or solo crews will attempt mass-fishing in the first place, especially in Cody's galaxy, as such is illegal. Sea Harpies have been known to lead solo and small crews seeking treasure to the island they seek. Under these situations one must be prepared to give the Sea Harpy a cut of treasure. If they're not given an acceptable amount, they will lead you to become lost at sea. On occasion a pirate has been known to kill a Sea Harpy that's helped them when they demand treasure. These crews are never heard from again. Pirate lore has considered it a curse to kill a Sea Harpy as a result of these events.

Reasoning

Sea Harpies reasoning seems to be developed enough to help them keep their distance from predators while at the same time working towards a partner. For instance, male Sea Harpies will not fight in the presence of a female Sea Harpy. They may attempt to shaft each other, but they will not become violent since this could take away from their chances of scoring a mate. Sea Harpies only dive out of the water if under attack to better conserve energy. Diving into the water does not take as much energy as diving out does. Female Sea Harpies, while not often social with each other, will make exceptions if they are lonely. Sea Harpies also use common sense when hunting. They will not go after a fish that is poisonous unless there is a way to evade the poison. While rare, Sea Harpies can conduct attacks on people who are mass-fishing as a small or solo group. They consider it a threat to their natural resources. Under these attacks, the logic is very apparent, as they will attack the nets and start damaging them in large numbers. They only attack the people who try to fight them. If you're just a small scale fisher, they don't mind you and you can fish with them. They may even occasionally (and accidentally) drop a fish onto your boat.

Social

Males are generally more social than females and work well in groups. Female Sea Harpies on the other hand are spread out and scattered over open waters. They are less social, but they still have social needs. On occasion a female may mingle with another if they are feeling lonely. If they are isolated enough, they may even mingle with a solo or small crew of sailors. Just be prepared to talk a lot in this case, because when they have social needs, they will talk a lot to replenish them. This is also the best chance to befriend a Sea Harpy. It is rare to befriend a Sea Harpy, but it is even more rare to befriend most other species of Harpy. Sea Harpies out at sea don't typically group up, however, a large source of food may cause a temporary grouping of Sea Harpies. Small fishermen crews have often used this to get an idea where to fish. Sea Harpies will team up when conducting an attack, but are rarely known to conduct attacks in the first place. Sea Harpies have teamed up with Watemajosis in the past in pursuit of food. Sometimes this results in a friendship.

Language

Sea Harpies have their own language which they use to communicate with each other. This language may share some words that other Harpies may understand, but for the most part the words are unique to their language. Most Sea Harpies know some sort of Human tongue in order to communicate with Humanoids who may be found out at sea. The two languages they are most likely to known is English and Spanish, but a few know Japanese as well. The languages a Sea Harpy knows likely reflects the language of those they've interacted with. Sea Harpies can learn a new language, but it becomes difficult past a certain age or if they already know more than two languages (outside their own).

Intelligence

Sea Harpies have become quite clever and have learnt from mistakes. They are well aware of how to conserve energy. They only use techniques such as screwdrivers and diving out of water when the situation demands it. One of the best examples of use of intellect is in their nests. In addition to how they construct their nests they also plant plants within their nesting cavern. They know that plants produce oxygen and utilize this so they don't have to take as many, if any, trips out of their nests to transport more air. Under extremely rare circumstances, they've been known to interact with technology that Magikerts are utilizing as well. This kind of situation is extremely rare not only because Sea Harpies would have to be lonely to interact in this sort of way, but also because they'd have to be beyond conversation, which is most often what they use to fulfill their social requirements. Only two such scenarios have been confirmed and one possible.

Habitat

Range

Sea Harpies are found over open waters and over remote islands. On the Overworld that would be over Feshi Sea. They can sometimes be found near the coast of Treasure Island as well. When the weather over the sea is very unpleasant (typically cyclone weather), this may drive Sea Harpies to the rooftops of Portboot Town. Sea Harpies are more likely to find a safe spot on an island or in their nests before they resort to this. Sea Harpies will never venture too far North due to their poor tolerance of cold weather.

Their range in the Current Realm is 1X and Gold Star within Cody's galaxy. They are also found on Sinia over large open water areas, which means their range overlaps with Watemajosis further out in these large bodies of water. Sea Harpies in the Current Realm may near coastlines when following a source of food.

Climate

Sea Harpies love the open seas. Males are found on remote islands in colonies and females are found, usually singly, over open waters. Warm tropical waters are among their favourite places to be. Sea Harpies will not be found over cold open waters. The nest of a Sea Harpy is almost always found under the sea floor. It is very hard to determine where the entry to one is, especially since other sea creatures are known to make shelters along the sea floor. Sea Harpy scents do not travel well underwater, which helps keep their nests hidden. Their only predator is large sharks and two species of whale, and all of them are too large to fit into a Sea Harpy nest, but Sea Harpies still do their best to avoid making the location of their nest known. They will not enter their nests if a predator is nearby. They will also attack any potential egg thieves nearby, whether they have an active or inactive nest.

Adaptability

The best example of adaptation is how a Sea Harpy creates their nest. They start by digging out a cavern under the sea floor. They can dig quite deep depending on how deep the sand layer is. After they dig out a small cavern, they will then use their Bubbox organ to ingest air from above water and bring it down to the cavern. While they are doing this, they will also bring clay and water-repelling plants and line these up along the walls of the caverns to prevent any water from getting in. They can also use their Bubbox to ingest water and carry it out of their nests. Some more recent adaptation that Sea Harpies have added to their nests is planting plants within their cavern. Many are aware that plants replenish oxygen levels and this would reduce the amount of trips they'd have to make to keep oxygen levels down there at an acceptable level. Typically by the time all the plants are planted there is a balance and a mutually symbiotic relationship is formed.

Exploration

Male Sea Harpies will explore until they find an existing colony or a remote island they like. Their exploration slows once they're part of a colony. Female Sea Harpies are almost always exploring and wandering the open seas. Some subspecies may also venture into freshwater, but only if the body of water is wide open. Sea Harpies will not go any further inland than the coastline, fish do not swim on land. Female Sea Harpies will restrict their exploration to a radius near their nest when they have one and it's active. If it's inactive they may venture far from it, but they will remember where it is.

Reproduction

Courting

Sea Harpies will already have a nest made before they seek a partner. Females will utilize a special organ called the Bubbox to transport oxygen to a small cavern that they dig out under the sea floor. They will line the walls of their cavern with clay and water repellent plants. Many Sea Harpies have also planted plants that produce a lot of oxygen. A few Sea Harpies have even went to the extent of planting water repellent plants as lining. Once their nests are prepared they may search for partners.

Sea Harpies do not depend in periodic cycles and will engage in a mating season when opportunity presents itself. This will occur when a female Sea Harpy discovers a male Sea Harpy colony. She will then relay this information to other female Sea Harpies in the area who will also relay. They will make and dress in very pretty clothing before they set off in a flock towards the male colony. Sea Harpies will utilize their Bubbox organ to puff up their chest and fluff their feathers to court. They are known to dance, both in the air and on the ground. Males are more likely to dance on the ground. Successful courting will end in the female Harpy taking the male to her nest.

There is no courting if a female Sea Harpy targets someone who is a different species. They will snatch solo sailing males and tightly embrace them with their wings and take them underwater to their nests.

Initiation

A Sea Harpy initiates with their partner upon entering their nests. They will only initiate once. Due to their high fertility one attempt will likely cause them to begin forming eggs. The female Sea Harpy will be cuddly with her partner while she forms eggs. In the rare case that she does not form eggs within a week, she will attempt initiation again. The second attempt will have a lot more effort and time placed into it.

Pregnancy/Eggs

The female forms eggs over a period of five days. It takes a few hours to lay the eggs once she is ready to. Sea Harpies lay 2 to 4 eggs, but they would likely be able to bear more if they had better capacity. The eggs will hatch after one week.

Nurture

Sea Harpies are capable of producing milk, but they will only breastfeed their offspring if their partner is not a male Sea Harpy. In the case of a male Sea Harpy being a female Sea Harpy's partner, the male will bring food back to the nest in this case. The male will also take care of his partner and the offspring along with keeping them safe.

Training

Training offspring begins at 2 weeks where they'll be trained on oxygen management. This allows children to quickly acquire low oxygen tolerances which will serve them to stay underwater for longer. After oxygen management has progressed enough they will learn hunting with their parents. Sea Harpies are considered mature at 2 years, but their bodies often mature at 1.5 years. They will have their full adult feathers by 2 years.

Variations

Wigus

Wigus have some appearance differences in terms of feather colour and coverage. The males have a dark teal colour and are often found in colonies on remote islands. The females are a stormy grey with a slight teal tint to them. Their feather coverage is not as much compared to Aquaius. The wings of a Wigus are slightly larger. Their bellies are bare along with an area just below their neck. Wigus also have a thinner webbing on their feet and have somewhat sharper tips to their toes. They like to hunt from the air, but they will dive if the food they target decides to descend. Wigus also have smaller hips compared to Aquaius and have a lower maximum weight of about 90kg. Their heights remain similar to their other subtype.

Behaviours between Wigus and Aquaius are similar to one another. The primary difference is that Wigus spend more of their time in the air over open seas compared to their other subtype. Of rare coastal visits, Wigus are the most likely to be driven to a shoreline. Observations over a millennium have demonstrated that Wigus are driven to shorelines about 20% more than Aquaius. This is likely due to them being in the air for longer.

There is little difference in climate preferences between the two subtypes. Wigus have a slightly larger range, but nearly all of it is shared with their other subtype.

Both variations follow the same reproductive patterns, but it is uncommon for the subtypes to cross-breed.

Another difference to be noted is that Wigus have a significantly shorter lifespan. They may only live as long as 30 years and up to 80 years. Wigus have been found to have fewer self-renewing cells than Aquaius and this seems to make the primary difference.

Aquaius

Aquaius have appearance differences for feather colour and coverage. Males are a teal colour and females have a cyan-green colour to them. Like any Sea Harpy, males are found in colonies, but the colonies can contain both subspecies. Aquaius are completely covered in feathers with no bare spots aside from their face. Aquaius have slightly smaller wings, but there's only about a centimetre difference on average. Aquius have much thicker hips, even though visually they may only look a little larger. It is suspected that this area may house some of their self-renewing cells that results in a longer lifespan. This is also the toughest area of their body which makes capturing a partner much easier. The webbing on an Aquaius's feet is thicker than Wigus, but the toes of their feet are not as sharp, as they tend to capture their food by beak more than by feet. Due primarily to hip density, Aquaius can weigh up to 120kg. Heights are similar between subtypes.

While many behaviours are similar between the two subspecies of Sea Harpies, there are subtle differences. Aquaius spend more time underwater and less time in the air. Interestingly enough this does not make their low oxygen tolerance any better than their other subtype. Coastal visits are rare, a little more rare than their other subtype as they sometimes just increase the time underwater to avoid most of the bad weather. Prolonged bad weather will still drive Aquaius to shorelines.

Climate preferences are very similar for all Sea Harpies, but Aquaius are slightly further from shorelines compared to the other subtype.

Reproductive patterns are parallel for both subtypes. Cross-breeding is an uncommon occurrence, even when interacting with a mixed male Sea Harpy colony.

A difference worth noting is Aquaius have a notably longer lifespan compared to Wigus. Aquaius have been found to have some self-renewing cells that allow them to live up to 3.5 times longer than Wigus. It is suspected these cells are stored somewhere in Aquaius's thick hips.